College Basketball Betting Picks for Wednesday: 5 Best Bets From Our Experts

It's tough to keep up with player movement in college basketball, but if there's one you should take note of, it's in the Patriot League.

That addition leads our staff best bets for Wednesday's slate. Our experts are also looking hard at Missouri-Vanderbilt, UNLV-Boise State and Virginia-Virginia Tech.

Here's what they're betting on Wednesday:

College Basketball Betting Picks

Odds as of Wednesday morning and via DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.

Stuckey

• Odds: Loyola MD +2.5 at Navy
• Over/Under: 137
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• TV: Patriot League Network

I’ve been aggressively bumping up Loyola Maryland in my power ratings since Santi Aldama became eligible. The 6-foot-11 freshman from Spain won MVP at the FIBA U18 this summer before having surgery. He returned earlier this month, joining fellow 6-foot-11 freshman Golden Dike, who’s also from that Spain team, to give Loyola a very formidable front line that has opened up the entire offense.

Prior to Aldama joining the Greyounds, they had lost eight straight games.

But since he joined the lineup, they’ve won six of seven — a streak that started with a home win over this Navy team. Similar to that game, Loyola should have too much size inside against a Midshipmen team with no players over 6-foot-8.

Also, for what it’s worth, Navy has the lowest rated home court advantage in the nation, per my numbers, so I have no issues fading them in Annapolis, which is less than an hour drive from the Loyola campus in Baltimore. Navy is also one of the slowest teams in the country, which makes the points here a little more intriguing.

The winner of this game will likely avoid having to play in the first round of the Patriot League tournament, so both teams should show up. But I just think Loyola is better right now with Aldama in the lineup, so I’ll gladly take the points in a game I basically make a coin flip with a slight edge to Loyola.

Pick: Loyola +2.5

Michael Calabrese

• Odds: Loyola Maryland @ Navy-2
• Over/Under: 137
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• TV: Patriot League Network

If you’ve been paying attention to Stuckey’s power ratings, Loyola Maryland was one of the biggest movers over the past month. The Greyhounds survived an eight-game losing streak to start 2020, and have seen their fortune change significantly since the debut of international sensation Santi Aldama. The Spanish import has led Loyola to a 6-1 record straight-up and 5-2 record ATS over the past month.

As expectations continue to rise in Baltimore, the feeling is not mutual just 45 minutes southeast. Navy has dropped six of its last seven contests both SU and ATS. This includes an emotional overtime loss to Army in its last game.

Cam Davis, the Mids’ leading scorer, missed the front end of a pair of foul shots at the end of regulation, squandering a chance to down their rival.

So why the love for the Naval Academy? Dating back to last year, Navy has had no appreciable home court advantage against the number, posting just a 13-14 ATS record. They also lost by six at Reitz Arena on Feb. 1 to Loyola in Aldama’s debut.

The 6-foot-11 stretch four played just 17 minutes, chipping in 11 points and one rebound. Since then, Aldama is averaging over 31 minutes, 13.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.

Digging into the team’s stats, one play stands out above all others and presents an opportunity to fade Navy out of the gate. Navy averages just 28.2 points per game in the first half (340th), and have led just once at half this month. Loyola has been the exact opposite (34.9, 76th), leading in the first 20 minutes in all but one contest since Feb. 1.

Grab the Hounds plus a point in the first half, and consider them on the moneyline for the game.

Pick: Loyola +1 First Half, Loyola ML+115

Eli Hershkovich

• Odds: Virginia -3 at Virginia Tech
• Over/Under: 112.5
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN2

After dropping eight of its past 10 games straight-up, losing nine of them against the spread, I’m expecting Virginia Tech to bounce back vs. its in-state rival.

Not only did the Hokies get blasted by 24 points at Virginia on Jan. 4, but they also shot just 16.0% from behind the arc. Mike Young’s crew has regressed from deep in ACC play, shooting just 31.6% despite boasting the 66th-best 3-point percentage (35.4%) across Division I.

Look for Tech to undergo some positive regression against the Hoos’ pack-line defense, which is susceptible to the 3-ball. Virginia has yielded the 28th-highest 3-point scoring rate overall this season, too.

Tony Bennett’s bunch has a critical home matchup with Duke on Saturday as well, so this game has potential for a look-ahead spot.

Pick: Virginia Tech +3

Collin Wilson

• Odds: Vanderbilt +2.5
• Over/Under: 140
• Time: 9p EST
• TV: ESPNU

Wednesday offers plenty of games featuring teams that have aspirations of winning a national championship. But neither team in Nashville will have their hopes up as Missouri and Vanderbilt have combined for just six wins in the SEC.

But the Commodores are still fighting hard despite a 1-13 SEC record.

Missouri comes in as a short favorite, but the Tigers have won just one game on the road the entire season, a Dec. 7 victory over Temple. After a double-digit loss at Arkansas this past weekend, Missouri has now just covered two games on the road the entire year.

Vanderbilt is a different story, recently covering against Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi State.

The numbers aren't pretty in any way. Vanderbilt has been the better shooting team throughout the season, but a great chance at covering comes from the free throw line.

The Commodores rank 50th in the nation in point distribution from the free throw line, showing a propensity for making it to the charity stripe. Missouri opponents are No. 3 in the nation in point distribution from the foul line. The Tigers foul a ton, which should keep the clock stopped and Vanderbilt players at the line.

That is enough for me to bet against a road favorite that has covered only once on the road this year.

Pick: Vanderbilt +2.5

Mike Randle

• Odds: UNLV -3
• Over/Under: 142
• Time: 11 p.m. ET
• TV: CBSN

UNLV is now playing its best basketball of the season. The Rebels are coming off a fantastic 66-63 at No. 5 San Diego State, giving the Aztecs with their first and only loss of the season. The Runnin’ Rebels will now look to avenge their 73-66 loss at Boise State back on Jan. 8.

The Rebels added a key player since that last meeting in guard Elijah Mitrou-Long (12.1 ppg, 35.3% 3P). The senior transfer from Iowa State missed several games with a broken hand and has been a huge offensive weapon since his return. In the last three contests, Mitrou-Long is averaging 31 minutes and 16.1 points per game while shooting 44% (7 of 16) from 3P.

Boise State relies on its rebounding ability, ranking second-best in Mountain West play in defensive rebounding percentage. However, UNLV can match the Broncos with the top offensive rebounding production in conference play and the third-best defensive rebounding percentage.

UNLV is only 15-14 against the spread but has covered their last three games by a spread differential of +40 points. I expect its best effort on Senior Night, especially coming off such a huge road win.

This is a much better Runnin’ Rebels lineup with Mitrou-Long that is playing its best basketball of the season. I’m laying the small number in a nice revenge spot at home.

Pick: UNLV -3